Five Gatineau-area men were to appear in court Thursday after they were arrested by police in connection with an alleged “pedophile hunt” posse active in the area since at least January.
Gatineau Police said they arrested the men in raids Thursday morning. A total of 38 charges have been laid against the suspects, including charges of criminal harassment and intimidation.
The raids also produced computer equipment, improperly stored firearms and a small quantity of cannabis, police said.
Gatineau police said they first became aware in January that individuals were trying to trap pedophiles using social media.
The investigation indicated the group would go on dating apps posing as a 14-year-old child to chat with men who wanted to have sex. Once an appointment was arranged, the “hunters” would film the meeting and broadcast the scene on social media, police claim.
Police warned that such actions are illegal and dangerous.
An investigator had met with one of the organizers to “explain the risks to which he was exposed if he continued,” police said. But the suspects allegedly kept it up, leading to the raids.
“The SPVG recalls that under no circumstances can a person take justice into his own hands, even if he is the victim of a crime, whatever it may be,” police said in a release.
Since the phenomenon emerged, Gatineau police said they have received about 10 complaints from citizens who are concerned about the situation or who have been victims of an offence related to the group’s actions.
People facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It’s our policy not to name those charged unless we plan to follow the case through the justice system or it’s of significant public interest to identify them.
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